Clean Up Yard Debris With Leaf Blowers

!: Clean Up Yard Debris With Leaf Blowers

Autumn brings the most frequent loss of leaves from trees, but it is not the only time. Many plants and trees lose their leaves and needles year-round. Berries and flowers also drop throughout spring, summer and winter, piling up on front walks, driveways, decks and porches. Keeping up with falling debris from trees and shrubbery in the yard can be an endless chore. One way to reduce the amount of raking and sweeping involved is to use a leaf blower. It can be used on a variety of yard debris to keep the property looking clean and can also prevent injuries from slip-and-falls or tripping visitors and family members.

Pine Straw
Falling needles from pine trees accumulate anywhere and everywhere year round, especially when it is dry. The needles soon turn from green to brown and become straw. When needles are loose by themselves, they tend to blow around and accumulate on driveways and against fence lines and shrubbery. Use the leaf blower to herd the pine straw into a pile near some landscaped areas. Use a rake to distribute the needles in the flower bed or around a tree instead of using mulch. Even it out with the hands if necessary to avoid damaging plant material. Use a one- to two-foot circumference around a tree for definition and to help keep moisture in the soil and dirt from washing away.

Leaves
When left on the grass for more than a few weeks, leaves will turn it yellow as they begin to decompose. When the fallen leaves have dried out slightly, use a leaf blower to move them off the lawn and into a pile for collection. Start at the farthest corner of the property and walk through in a symmetrical pattern with a sweeping motion. Do one section at a time. They can either be bagged up for special collection or run through a mulching machine and mixed in with compost or fertilizer. Some municipalities send a leaf machine through the neighborhood to suck them from the edge of the street after they have been gathered by residents.

Berries
Shrubs with berries are very attractive when the berries are on the bushes. Once they have fallen, they can create a mess. Use leaf blowers to remove them from walkways and driveways before they cause problems. Soft, round berries cause staining when stepped on. They also create a slippery surface. Blowing them into garden areas or gathering them for use in the compost pile is one answer. Blowing them into the lawn to be shredded by the lawnmower is another.